Home Office

Immigration Controls

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional security measures and at what additional cost are being installed at the UK-French border at Calais.

James Brokenshire: Security of the UK border is our priority. Basing UK controls in France enables Border Force to stop illegal migrants before they reach our shores. Since 2010, this Government has invested millions in strengthening the security of our border in Calais and other key ports. We have bolstered physical security in Calais, upgraded technology and equipment and increased joint intelligence work with the French.The Home Secretary and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve set out a number of commitments in a joint declaration on 20 September to tackle problems at the port of Calais, including £12 million from the UK Government towards bolstering security and infrastructure. Their declaration also reaffirms their commitment to closer working by UK and French law enforcement agencies to target organised crime gangs behind people trafficking and smuggling.Recent improvements include a total of £5.6 million to improve security at Calais and other ports in Northern France, helping to protect the UK border.We have invested £2 million to detect people hiding in lorries by upgrading vehicle scanning equipment with the latest technology; and have increased the number of sniffer dogs stationed at Calais and other ports.We are further strengthening physical security by investing nearly £400,000 in thermo-detection security cameras and enhanced secure perimeter fencing around the Calais port and the Channel Tunnel at Coquelles. Further to the £12 million we have committed, earlier this year the Home Office also agreed to provide £3 million for a range of security measures across the ports in Northern France. We are pressing the Calais Chamber of Commerce to allow those measures to be implemented.

HM Treasury

National Insurance

Mr David Anderson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will consider including information about bone marrow donation within correspondence informing people of their National Insurance number.

Mr David Gauke: There are no plans to include information about bone marrow donation within the letters issued informing people of their National Insurance number. However, as digital delivery of services increase HMRC are looking at whether there are opportunities to highlight other services that individuals may wish to consider.